Pubdate: Tue, 03 Jun 2003
Source: West Australian (Australia)
Copyright: 2003 West Australian Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.thewest.com.au
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/495
Author: P. Baker

PM MISSING POINT ON CANNABIS

PRIME Minister John Howard has said he might support the use of cannabis 
for pain relief if it is in tablet form.  Mr Howard is missing the point, 
because one of the great advantages of cannabis over other forms of 
medication is that, by inhaling the drug, the user gets a much faster 
reaction to it.

Cannabis can also be used to relieve the nausea associated with 
chemotherapy and some medication used to control the HIV condition.

If a person is nauseous or actually vomiting, the last thing they would 
want to do is swallow medication.  It could well come up before it has had 
a chance to work.

I have also been told that, by smoking cannabis, the user can take just 
enough to control their condition then stop.  They do not have to get 
"high", but if they sustain a feeling of well being and happiness for a 
short time, who is going to begrudge them that?

I am not advocating an across-the-board legalisation, just a commonsense, 
prescription-based use of the drug for all those who have need of it.

P. BAKER, Binningup
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MAP posted-by: Alex